Dowagiac Union Schools’ Disney Way Initiative

March 4, 2011; To the Dowagiac Community:

We are on our way to Dreaming, Believing, Daring and Doing! Training has begun to begin the process of creating a collaborative plan with community members to prepare our students for the demands of the 21st Century and a global economy. The Dowagiac Union Schools Board of Trustees and I believe all people of Dowagiac should be part of the dream process to shape Dowagiac Schools for the next decade. From my experience exceptional student achievement can be obtained and sustained if a common dream is generated and implemented with community input and support.

The Disney Way initiative will help guide us to ensure high school graduates are ready to enter college or other post secondary training. A plan where students trust through education and training they can make a family sustaining wage. A Dowagiac Dream where students can rise to the rigor of the curriculum because they have significant relationships with adults making the curriculum relevant and meaningful resulting in higher test scores, increased academic achievement, and increased graduation rates.

A 21st Century Educational Plan will be crafted and presented to our community with a target date of August 31, 2011. As superintendent of Dowagiac Union Schools, I can honestly state our Dowagiac Union Schools will improve because stakeholders like you participated in our Dreaming, Believing, Daring, and Doing.

Dr. Mark Daniel, Superintendent